Passports

Steps involved when obtaining a passport:

• Applications can be picked up in the Giles County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
• The customer must complete the application himself or herself. The only exception is if the customer is physically handicapped. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding the application but we cannot fill it out for you (per Chapter 9 of the Passport Agent’s Reference Guide.)
• The application must be filled out in black ink or typed.
• The passport is valid for 10 years for an adult and 5 years for a child.
• Parents must be present and sign for children under 16 years of age.
• The applicant must have a valid divers license or DMV photo ID
• You will need one check or money order made out to “U.S. Department of State”. It must include the applicant’s name and date of birth.
• If the check or money order is for more than one application it must include each person’s name.
• You will need a second check or money order made out to “Giles County Circuit Court”.
• You may need to call before you come in and set up an appointment to process your application. We want to personalize this process and provide you time to ask questions.
• The application will take about 4-6 weeks to process. The applicant can expedite the process by paying an extra fee.
• Passport books can be obtained if the trip involves air travel, otherwise a passport card will suffice.
• When completing the application, it is very important to follow the strict guidelines set up by the U. S. Department of State. We are their screening agency and are held accountable for each application being acceptable. Otherwise, your application will be delayed or rejected by them.
• Two items that applicants need to pay close attention to are their photographs and birth certificate.

Criteria involved when submitting your photographs:

• Two identical passport photographs sufficiently recent (taken within the past 6 months) must be presented per application.
• Photographs that are not exactly 2 inches by 2 inches will not be accepted. It is recommended that you pick up an application before you have your picture taken and compare the size to the picture box to insure it perfectly fits.
• The image size measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head (including hair) should not be less than 1 inch nor more than 1 3/8 inches.
• The pose must be clear, front view, full face, with a plain white or light-colored background. Only the applicant should appear in the photo (this includes infants)
• A passport photograph serves to identify the bearer. If glasses, a hearing device, a wig, or similar articles are normally worn, they should be worn when the photograph is taken. In addition, if an applicant normally wears facial jewelry (i.e. eyebrow, lip, nose piercing) it must be also worn when photographs are taken. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons. Passport Services may require a written statement or medical certificate to support this.
• Photos submitted with a glare on the eyeglasses are not acceptable if the eyes are not visible.
• Passport photos should be in color. Tinted or retouched photographs that alter the subject’s appearance are not acceptable.
• Without exception, photographs must be submitted at the time the application is executed.
• Photographs should be taken in normal street attire without a hat or other headgear, unless the headgear is part of religious attire that is worn daily. A signed statement should be included to that affect with the application.

Criteria involved when submitting your birthcertificate:

• Evidence of U.S. citizenship or nationality must accompany each passport application
• If available, a customer can submit a previously fully valid U S passport as proof of citizenship
• Primary evidence of birth in the US is an original or a certified birth certificate
• It must be issued under the seal or other authentication of the official custodian of birth records.
• A certified birth certificate is acceptable in and of itself as evidence of U.S. citizenship if it shows all of the following:
• a file date, or the date the certificate was filed in the registrar’s (official custodian) office, within one year of the birth
• a full name, including given name
• the date and place of birth
• Registrar’s signature
• The authorized seal of the registrar’s office. The seal may be raised, embossed, impressed, or multicolored.
• Parent’s names if a birth certificate is for a child under the age of 14
• Birth cards are not acceptable

 

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